Nihkega

Nihkega is a neologism used in worldbuilding and speculative fiction to describe a philosophical stance that blends nihilist sensibilities with pragmatic resilience. In its fictional usage, nihkega denotes a disciplined approach to living with uncertainty and meaninglessness, emphasizing personal responsibility, minimalism, and practical ethics. The term is typically described as deriving from a compound of the root nihil- (from nihilism) and a fictional suffix -kega; it has no basis in any real language and exists only within its invented context.

In stories and game settings, adherents of nihkega reject dogmatic worldviews while accepting the limits of human knowledge. They cultivate routines, simple rituals, and community-based sharing to navigate crisis and decay. The concept is used to explore themes of autonomy, endurance, and ethical action under adverse conditions.

Scholars within these fictional contexts debate its value: critics describe nihkega as existential asceticism that can foster isolation or fatalism, while supporters argue it offers a clear stance for action when grand ideologies fail. The term also informs aesthetics, influencing design and narrative tone toward austerity and restraint.

Outside of fiction, nihkega remains largely a creative coinage with limited real-world usage. It appears mainly in discussions of worldbuilding, speculative philosophy, and media analysis as a way to label a particular set of attitudes toward meaning, risk, and resilience.